Customer Spotlight: London Early Years Foundation

Bikeworks*, a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Bethnal Green, has now donated a total of 200 bikes to London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), since their partnership began in 2018.

The latest addition of 16 bikes, which were built as part of a collaborative team building day with Thomson Reuters and organised by Bikeworks, will be shared across LEYF’s 39 charitable social enterprise nurseries.

This collaboration will form an important part of the LEYF-led initiative to get children active and help curb the Capital’s escalating childhood obesity epidemic. As statistics show, one in five children in the UK start school either overweight or obese. London Early Years Foundation is today urging both the London Mayor and Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL’s General Manager responsible for Santander Cycles to help fund a much wider scheme across the Capital to give every London child access to a bike whilst at nursery.

This clever partnership also provides brand new bikes to children whose parents may not be able to afford to buy one as well as enhancing their health and well-being.

“Many children, especially those from deprived neighbourhoods, do not have access to a bike at home or simply an outdoor space to cycle. What’s more, their preference for video games or screen time often keeps them indoors rather than being active in the fresh air. As obesity rates among children skyrockets, we (as one of London’s largest charitable social enterprises), along with Bikeworks, want action to help address the country’s biggest public health crisis and what better way than learning how to ride a bike? It goes without saying, children who cycle regularly are more likely to become active adults.”

June O'Sullivan

CEO - London Early Years Foundation

PICTURED:

Children from London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) Barking Riverside Nursery & Preschool and Eastbury Nursery & Preschool keep active at Stratford’s Lee Valley Velo Park to celebrate the 200 bike donations from Jim Blakemore, CEO of Bikeworks.

“Through our successful team building service, Charity Bike Factory, we are thrilled by the impact of our partnership with the London Early Years Foundation in encouraging young children to learn how to ride a bike and stay active. Cycling helps tackle a range of key issues for today’s society, from reducing child obesity, contributing to children’s confidence and self-esteem, to reducing CO2 emissions and air pollution. All of this demonstrates why increased investment in active travel is vital to address issues of social inclusion, health and well-being and the environment.”